Initially given a 4-8 week recovery timetable after breaking his left foot on March 2, backup catcher Francisco Cervelli could be close to returning to the Yankees after catching six innings in an extended spring training game.

Joe Girardi said yesterday that “everything is going according to plan” with Cervelli’s rehab and Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com reports that he “could return to the Yankees in as little as 10 days.”

Cervelli got just a handful of spring training at-bats before the injury, so he’ll need to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the disabled list. Russell Martin is playing well enough that he doesn’t have to worry about losing significant playing time to Cervelli, who would instead resume backup duties while pushing Gustavo Molina off the roster.

Defensively sound? For a guy that needs to lean on his glove to play in the big leagues, 13 errors in 90 games behind the dish last year while throwing out 14 percent of base stealers hardly describes a defensively sound backup catcher. Yes, the guys hustles everywhere on the field. Doesn’t make him defensively sound.

I would agree that Cervelli compared to Posada behind the dish is preferable at this point. Based on what has been written on Montero, that is true as well. And if Montero isn’t going to play regularly right now, leave him in the minors until the Yanks are ready to make that commitment.